Tackling alcoholism
in women
It is learnt that a dedicated women’s Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) has been launched in Goa with meetings to be held every Saturday at the Cansaulim group meeting.
Goa currently has 60 AA meeting points for men across various regions. A women-specific helpline has also been introduced. It is learnt that the number of women suffering from alcoholism has increased since the introduction of sweeter alcoholic beverages. Women are reportedly more susceptible to alcohol related damage even when drinking less than men and the death rate among women is reportedly 50 percent higher as compared to their male counterparts.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms start to kick in once the alcohol has left the body. This is due to a neurochemical imbalance in the brain. These side effects are also known as withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the degree of the alcohol abuse and the severity of the addiction, the symptoms can actually be life-threatening.
Research suggests women are more likely to experience hangovers than men. Like men, women too become alcoholic and are characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use. Alcoholism can cause lasting changes in the brain that make alcoholics, especially women vulnerable to relapse. Goa is a place where alcohol flows freely being a tourist State. Unfortunately several Goans have fallen prey to alcoholism and these now include women. Alcoholism is not just an individual problem but a social problem. Women who drink during pregnancy put their babies at risk of being born with disorders which include abnormal facial features and severe developmental and learning disabilities. Hence, it is absolutely necessary for women with drinking problems to take timely help from Alcoholics Anonymous group in Goa dedicated for women.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Be alert this monsoon
Undoubtedly, monsoon is a season of joy for everyone as it provides so much relief from the sweltering heat.
But, perhaps, this monsoon particularly we ought to be cautious and alert in view of the developments that are underway everywhere without precautionary measures in place for the safety of the common man. With roads dug up everywhere, trenches uncovered, mud heaped in mounds, uneven roads surfaces adding difficulty, especially to two-wheelers, and unexpected injury to life, temporary or permanent, could be the order of the day to regular travellers. Incidentally, no authority in power takes the blame. Come what may, for the general public, life must go on, but to be more on the alert side, it will go a long way to add safety to life.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Delegation to other nations
All along, a perception was created by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the right wing groups that there is a very big image for PM Modi in all foreign countries and that, it is only because of the rapport created by him with the world leaders, India has earned an unassailable and enviable support in the external world.
However, this perception got shattered as a myth recently, when we witnessed no country coming forward to extend its unstinted support openly to India, post “Operation Sindoor”. Even Russia, Israel, UK and the US failed to offer even their basic support, leave alone unconditional support to India and stopped short of advising both India and Pakistan to stop further escalations, they both being nuclear- weaponised countries. Our foreign policy has, thus, taken a severe beating and our External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has yet again proved his inefficiency in handling his ministry.
In a video widely circulated, Jaishankar is seen admitting that India informed Pakistan before attacking their terrorist infrastructures under “Operation Sindoor” and, this has come to severe criticism by the Opposition is also a case in point. Moreover, the people of the nation who remain shell-shocked over the above revelation are also left with many unanswered questions about the above operation, which again, was withdrawn abruptly, without assigning any reasons.
All the above developments have resulted in India sending seven delegations comprising 59 selected MPs to different countries to apprise them of the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 innocent people were killed in cold blood, about our “Operation Sindoor” and to expose the terrorist-face of Pakistan.
It is necessary that the BJP government discusses with absolute transparency about “Operation Sindoor”, at least with the 59 delegates so that all of them will speak in one voice and narrate the developments coherently without any ambiguity when they meet the leaders of different countries. Otherwise, this mission will prove to be a futile exercise and become cost unproductive.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Tragicus maximus
The biggest tragedy presently unfolding on the face of earth is the Israeli attempt to exterminate every single human being in Gaza.
They are hell-bent on eliminating the very people who once welcomed them to their land. A war weary world looks the other way as the Israeli Jews go about committing mass slaughter.
It is a cruel paradox that a race that was once the victim of genocide is now heaping exactly the same onto the Palestinians.
A 3D mural of an aerial view of the main camp at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland shows a giant flame extending below ground level as a reminder of Crematorium 1, where the maximum number of Jews were cremated during the Holocaust. The words “Indifference to Injustice is the Gate to Hell” is seared into the base. Also, inscribed on one of the prison walls is the heart rending phrase, “If there is a God, he’ll have to beg my forgiveness”. The world has forgotten these tenets as much as the Jews have.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Palestine needs
global aid
The people of Palestine are slowly being murdered through starvation. Israel has blocked all land and sea routes into Palestine and is not allowing food or medicines or construction equipment to Palestinians.
Because Israel has US backing, no one in the region can dare do anything to help Palestine. India is too far away to help the people of Palestine and is presently fighting a giant bully (Pakistan) on its borders.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai